The Better Life Better Business Podcast

What does leadership look like when life hands you an ending you didn't choose? In this episode, I sit down with my friend and mentor, Robert H. Thompson, for a deeply personal and perspective-shifting conversation about what leaders truly need today. Robert is the author of The Offsite: A Leadership Challenge Fable and has spent more than 30 years advising senior leaders around the world. His cli...

In this episode, host Shawn Ellis interviews Mike Lee, former coach of elite athletes like Steph Curry and Joel Embiid, who now focuses on empowering leaders and organizations. Mike shares his journey from sports coaching to dealing with personal challenges like depression, and how embracing presence and mindfulness transformed his life and career. The conversation dives into practical tips for ov...

In this episode, host Shawn Ellis explores the theme 'Community Is Your Competitive Advantage.' He reflects on personal experiences, including his marriage, book release, and speaking at Toastmasters' 100th Annual Convention, to demonstrate the critical role community plays in achieving success and well-being. As an introvert, Shawn shares insights on the importance of building and maintaining a s...

In this special episode of The Better Life Better Business Podcast, host Shawn Ellis engages in a heartfelt discussion with his partner and now-fiancée, Megan. The conversation revolves around the significance of connection and community in their lives, particularly within the framework of 'Five Cs to Adapt & Thrive.' Shawn discusses his journey toward embracing community despite his introverted n...

In this episode, we explore the concept of the 'monkey trap' — a metaphor for how our own refusal to let go of certain beliefs, fears, or lies can hold us back in life. Shawn highlights the importance of self-awareness and courage in releasing these 'traps' to move forward personally and professionally. Listen and you'll be encouraged to examine your own 'traps' and consider whether they are servi...

Are you a leader on a mission to create a culture that's Built to Thrive? Then this episode is for you! Host Shawn Ellis discusses the recent impact of Sesame Street character, Elmo, asking on social media, 'how's everybody doing?' Not only does the massive response speak to the power of community and connection, but it also provides a powerful lesson to leaders about the importance of showing you...

Let's take a trip back in time to 2012! In this episode, Shawn shares a clip of him rehearsing for his very first "This Moment Matters" speaking engagement. In this 15-minute segment, you'll be reminded of just how important "this moment" is, and you'll also be inspired to be more present and more engaged for more of the moments in your life and work. Shawn also walks you through his "Box It Up" e...

If you're feeling lost or uncertain in a season of change, this episode is for you. In it, Shawn reads his latest ebook titled Adapt & Thrive: 5 Keys (or C's!) to Cultivate Resilience and Growth in Times of Change. Listen and you'll discover the antidote to anxiety, confusion, fear, doubt, and isolation - 5 signs that you've slipped into survival mode - so you can get on the road to making your ne...

We all have those ideas or desires that just keep nagging at us, that won't let us go. Those "hunches" or "callings" that say, "Come, follow me." In Shawn's return to The Better Life Better Business Podcast, he reflects on 20 years of business ownership and offers inspiration and encouragement to do that thing you've been wanting to do, that won't let you go - whether it's something big like start...

Feeling like you might be at a pivot point in your life? Been feeling stuck, like it may be time to make a change? Or maybe you're a leader, and you're sensing disruption in the marketplace, so it's time for your company to pivot in some way. If any of this rings true, you're going to love this episode of  The Better Life/Better Business Podcast as Shawn Ellis, Founder of The Speakers Group, is jo...

As a sales professional, do you ever feel like you're riding a self esteem roller coaster--up and down, from one sales call to another?  As a sales manager, are you looking for a proven strategy to help your people become revenue rock stars? Are you beating your head against the wall trying to figure out how to win back some of your most valuable clients that you've lost through the years? If you...

Leadership speaker and business coach,  Ron Minatrea , joins Shawn Ellis on this episode of The Better Life/Better Business Podcast to share some good advice to help all leaders--but especially "middle leaders"--find more fulfillment and achieve greater success, at home and at work, by aligning their vision, values and leadership for life.

Motivational speaker and marketing and sales expert, Scott Toland , joins Shawn Ellis on this episode of The Better Life/Better Business Podcast to share some good advice to help corporate executives, small business owners, entrepreneurs, sales professionals, and marketing professionals perform at a higher level and reach their goals.

You don’t have to be the next Steve Jobs — or even hire the next Steve Jobs — to be a breakthrough innovator in your industry.  Ken Tencer , innovation expert and co-author of Cause A Disturbance , breaks the myth that breakthrough innovations have to be "big" and complicated, and he shows you how to identify the innovative idea with the most potential for your business. You'll also discover how i...

Keith Ferrazzi ’s book, Never Eat Alone , redefined networking in the modern world. Nearing it’s 10th anniversary of release, a revised and expanded edition has just been published, and Keith joins Shawn Ellis on this episode of  The Better Life/Better Business Podcast  to share some of his latest insights.

Why should a customer do business with you over your competition? It's a question nearly 4,000 CEOs could not answer clearly, but in this interview,  Jaynie Smith , author of Creating Competitive Advantage and Relevant Selling , shares seven criteria for identifying YOUR competitive advantage so you can close more sales and rise above commodity status in your market.

In this interview, Scott Edinger , coauthor of The Inspiring Leader , shares insights on the ONE thing that impacts revenue growth, employee engagement and productivity in an organization; three ways to inspire your people (while being true to yourself); three activities that are likely consuming your organization's precious resources; and what REALLY makes an innovative organization.

Janice Marturano shares insights from her new book, Finding the Space to Lead: A Practical Guide to Mindful Leadership . Topics include: why mindfulness is essential for leaders, the four fundamentals of leadership excellence, what compassionate leadership is really about, and much more - including how to find space in your life TODAY with the simple act of a "purposeful pause."

Dr. Rick Hanson shares advice from his new book, Hardwiring Happiness , about how we can tap into the hidden power of everyday experiences to change our brains and our lives for the better. Discover why your brain has a negativity bias, and how to overcome it by "taking in the good" for just 10-30 seconds at a time to increase overall happiness.

Joel Zeff, author of Make the Right Choice, has shared his experience and insight on success, innovation, communication, leadership, teamwork, passion, and fun with more than 1,500 companies, associations, non-profits, and government entities over the past 15 years. On this episode of the Better Life, Better Business podcast, he shares some of the essential lessons that improvisational [...] Read...

Harry Paul, co-author of six books - including the best-selling FISH! series - is our special guest on today's edition of the Better Life, Better Business podcast, and he talks with Shawn Ellis about lessons learned from the Pike Place Fish Market and how to create a workplace where everyone chooses to bring energy, passion, and [...] Read online at Harry Paul reveals the ONE word that can boost m...

Today on the Better Life, Better Business podcast, Shawn interviews Diane Sieg, a self-professed "recovering adrenaline junkie" who now helps people move from "chaos to calm" in their lives and businesses as an author, inspirational speaker, life coach and yoga teacher. Listen in as Diane shares: What 20+ years as an Emergency Room nurse taught her [...] Read online at Learn how to go from "Chaos...

On today's episode of the Better Life, Better Business podcast, Chip Eichelberger, the former international point man for Tony Robbins who has been "switching on" convention audiences for almost 20 years, shares his strategies for keeping his energy up, staying motivated in tough times, and more. Listen in as host Shawn Ellis interviews Chip and learn: [...] Read online at "Get Switched On" and le...

Vicki Hitzges is known for helping companies create Cultures of Encouragement. On today's episode of the Better Life Better Business podcast, Shawn Ellis, founder of The Speakers Group, asks Vicki for her best advice on a variety of important issues facing companies and employees today. Listen in and learn: Zig Ziglar's secret for dealing with [...] Read online at Vicki Hitzges on how to deal with...

On July 4, 2005, a successful marketing executive - founder of one of the top 50 digital marketing firms in the US - set out on a journey and an adventure... to ride around the world, alone on his motorcycle. He returned three years later - after traveling over 62,000 miles across five continents - [...] Read online at Take a trip around the world with Allan Karl - aka the "WorldRider" - and learn...